Well, since no one else has answered your question, I'll say a few things, that may or may not be of help (I'm not that experienced, just started silver a few months ago, and don't do that particular step in my routine). I do empathize with how weird it feels not to be facing your partner. I have trouble with those steps, too. I recently took a smooth lesson with a female instructor to get help on issues like these (you might want to try that). Some of things I got from that lesson:
1) in open positions, posture is very erect, rather than being a frame designed to be counter-balanced by your partner. You still want to swing and sway where it's called for, but you don't need to try to assume the kind of stretched up-and-out posture you do in dance frame. Just try to stand up straight and shape as required from that base.
2) I've found that if you maintain a feeling of slightly stretching away from your partner, if the hold allows it, centrifugal force will help you drive the movement.
3) you probably want to look out, facing slightly away from your partner toward the audience. If you'll be extending a free arm, I like to shape a bit toward the entended arm and and look out along the arm.
Hopefully, now that I've gotten the ball rolling, someone who knows more than I do will come along and correct what I've said!
